Best of CASE District V Award
 

Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Title of entry: Plasma Visor Video

About this entry: This video highlights an exciting technology developed by Herek Clack, a University of Michigan associate professor of civil and environmental engineering—work that was partly sparked during the COVID 19 pandemic. His wearable air curtain is a two-fold approach to protect individuals from airborne pathogens. Non-thermal plasma inactivates pathogens in air, and that air is pushed through a wearable visor, producing a curtain that blocks incoming air molecules. It’s an elegant improvement on masks such as N95’s, which can be uncomfortable, have gaps and be difficult to talk through. Clack and his startup, Taza Aya, worked with companies such as Michigan Turkey Producers in Wyoming, MI for field testing with factory workers facing threats such as bird flu.


We were excited to cover this work as it shows research in action and demonstrates how that research has evolved into an innovative technology that can combat the spread of infectious diseases and, perhaps, help prevent future pandemics. Taza Aya had produced very promising results regarding the efficacy of the air curtain and we wanted to call attention to its potential with a video documenting its use.